A person holding a position in a fire or police department who is injured while in the performance of his duties and because of such injury is temporarily unable to continue to perform his duties or who enters the military or naval service of the United States because of a war in which the United States is a party belligerent or as required by any Act of Congress shall, upon written application to the board, be granted a disability or military leave, as the case may be.
65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-23